The 10 Things You Need to Do After Moving into Your New Home

Congratulations! You just purchased your new home! Everything looks great, the papers are signed, and all those boxes are off the truck. (You’ll get around to the unpacking next weekend.)

You’ve had help from one of our great agents up to this point, but where do you go from here? What’s next?

1. Scrub and shine. You may move into an immaculately clean home, and you may not. Be prepared with disinfectant wipes and cleaners just in case. If the state of the home is filthy, ask a local for a housekeeper recommendation. Your home will never be this empty again. Seize this opportunity to scrub surfaces before they get covered with furniture and boxes.

2. Bathroom matters. Don’t arrive at your new house without the most important bathroom necessity: toilet paper. It probably won’t get left behind by the previous owners and nobody wants to be caught without it! Another >ahem< “throne” issue is purely a matter of personal preference. Many homeowners prefer to install a new toilet seat after they move in. This is not necessary, but makes those moving into pre-owned homes feel a little better about the cleanliness of their new abode. A new seat is inexpensive at the hardware store and is simple to install.

3. Call the locksmith. Nothing beats holding those keys in your hand for the first time. But there’s no way to know who had copies of the previous owner’s keys. It will help your peace of mind to know that you are the only people who have a copy of the house keys.  

4. When’s garbage day? You will likely have loads of trash and recycling from your move-in process. Ask a neighbor for information about the local garbage pickup. You won’t want to miss it in those crucial first weeks!

5. Social media. Whether it’s the local Facebook page or a membership on Nextdoor.com, you’ll be glad to have the inside scoop on your new city or neighborhood. This is a great way to get a feel for your area and meet your neighbors.

6. Forms and paperwork. Make a list of your bank, credit cards, subscriptions, and memberships that will require change of address paperwork. Change anything you can (including your driver’s license) as soon as possible.

7. Internet and utilities. Ensure speedy changeover and no unexpected downtime between the move. Call the local utility company to establish the new home’s switchover. Research how you’ll change your internet from one home to the next. Many companies have fast “self-install” options that make for a speedy transition.

8. Convenience is key. It’s a great idea to grab paper plates and several cases of water bottles on moving day. (Don’t forget to recycle them!) Paper dishes mean you can eat takeout without having to search for your plates and bowls in boxes. And you will be glad to have lots of easy to grab water bottles in the fridge on strenuous days spent unpacking. Convenience foods (sandwich fixings, frozen pizzas, and takeout menus) will make eating during the initial weeks much easier.

9. Spread the word. Change of address cards are fun and simple to send. Some websites will even address and send cards for you. E-cards or a simple e-mail are other ways you can inform acquaintances of your new digs.

10. Document the day. You won’t regret snapping a family selfie in front of your new home. This is a monumental day and one you’ll want to remember for years to come. Take a second to reflect and capture a memory of the exciting first days in your new home. (Posting it on Instagram is completely optional, but highly recommended!)

Best of luck with your exciting new adventure. We hope this list helps you to get settled quickly and easily.

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